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Federal Employees
While unemployment eligibility rules are the same for federal employees there are important differences related to documenting federal earnings. Review the questions and information below in advance of filing your claim to ensure proper processing and avoid payment delays. Instructions differ and depend on whether your separation was caused by a federal shutdown. Select the instruction that applies to your situation. You may want to print a copy of this information to have with you while you are completing your unemployment application.
The fastest way to submit a claim for unemployment insurance benefits is to use our online system. Alternatively, you can call 732-761-2020 to apply for benefits by telephone.
Step 1 – Gather Critical Documents: Before you begin the application process, make sure to have all necessary information related to your employment handy. This includes the name, address and telephone number of your employer, your job title and work start and end dates, as well as copies of your SF-8 and SF-50 forms.
Step 2 – Federal Employment Question: When you get to the “General Information” section of your unemployment application, you will be asked if you have worked for the Federal Government in the last 18 months.
Step 3 – Employer Related Questions:
- In the Employment Summary section, click “Add Federal Employer” and enter the requested information.
- Double check your Agency Code before entering. Your Agency Code can be found on the SF8. Failure to enter the correct Agency Code may result in a delay in processing your claim.
Step 4 – Submitting Proof of Federal Employment: This is a critical step! Your application for unemployment benefits cannot be processed until your SF-8 and SF-50 are submitted.
- Online Applicants – After you submit your online application, you will receive an email that contains a link with follow-up questions and the ability to upload your SF-8 and SF-50. There is a deadline to submit your documents so complete this step as soon as you receive the email.
- Telephone Applicants - You will be asked to email, fax or mail a copy of both your SF-8 and SF-50. Emailing your documents will help to expedite the application process.
- Email to: fedpayinfo@dol.nj.gov
- Fax to: 609-292-7667
- Mail to (COPIES ONLY - DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS):
Customer Service Unit – 8th FlPO Box 491Trenton, NJ 08625-0491
Step 5 – Verify your Identify with ID.me: After submitting your application, go to ID.me and verify your identity. This helps us make sure payments go to the right person. DON’T WAIT – we cannot pay you benefits until your identity has been verified. You can learn more about identity verification here. Note: To prevent delays, do not verify your identity with ID.me until AFTER you have submitted your application.
Step 6 – Additional Information Requests: Check your email and be prepared to respond to additional questions related to your earnings information. If you are a federal employee, we are required to request your earnings information from your employer before we can process your benefit claim. If your employer does not respond to our request for information in a timely manner, NJDOL will email or call you to request copies of your pay stubs or W-2 information.
Step 1 – Gather Critical Documents: Before you begin the application process, make sure to have all necessary information related to your employment handy. This includes the name, address and telephone number of your employer, your job title and your work start and end dates, as well as copies of your SF-8 and SF-50 forms. For purposes of unemployment during a federal shut down, your work end date is your last day of work prior to the shutdown.
Step 2 – Federal Employment Question: When you get to the “General Information” section of your unemployment application, you will be asked if you have worked for the Federal Government in the last 18 months.
Step 3 – Work Start Question: When you get to the “Eligibility Information” section, you will be asked if you can start full-time work immediately. Unless you are physically or mentally unable to work, you should answer “Yes” to this question.
Step 4 – Tax Witholding Question: You will be asked if you wish to have 10% of your benefits withheld for Federal Income Tax. If you are a federal employee who may be eligible for retropay when the shutdown ends, consider your answer to this question carefully. If you select “Yes,” 10% of any unemployment benefits you receive will be sent to the IRS. If you receive full retropay when recalled to work, you will need to repay 100% of any unemployment benefits paid out, even if you had taxes withheld. We cannot provide tax advice but encourage you to seek assistance from a tax professional.
Step 5 – Employer Related Questions: In the Employment Summary section of the application, click “Add Federal Employer” and enter the requested information.
- You will be asked whether you are still employed. Although a federal shutdown means that your separation from your federal employer may not be permanent, you should select “No” when answering this question.
- Double check your Agency Code before entering. Your Agency Code can be found on your SF8. Failure to enter the correct Agency Code may result in a delay in processing your claim.
- You will be asked why your job ended or hours were reduced. If your separation occurred because of a Federal Shutdown, select “Federal Shutdown” from the dropdown menu.
- You will be asked to explain the reason for your separation in a text box under the question “If your reason for separation was not ‘Lay Off/Lack of Work’ or ‘Still Employed,’ please provide further explanation below.” In the text box, indicate if you are “furloughed without pay” or are “actively working without pay”.
Step 6 -- Submitting Proof of Federal Employment: This is a critical step! Your application for unemployment benefits cannot be processed until your SF-8 and SF-50 are submitted.
- Online Applicants – After you submit your online application, you will receive an email that contains a link with follow-up questions and the ability to upload your SF-8 and SF-50. There is a deadline to submit your documents so complete this step as soon as you receive the email.
- Email to: fedpayinfo@dol.nj.gov
- Fax to: 609-292-7667
- Mail to (COPIES ONLY - DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS):
Customer Service Unit – 8th FlPO Box 491Trenton, NJ 08625-0491Telephone Applicants - You will be asked to email, fax or mail a copy of both your SF-8 and SF-50. Emailing your documents will help to expedite the application process.
Step 7 – Verify your Identify with ID.me: After submitting your application, go to ID.me and verify your identity. This helps us make sure payments go to the right person. DON’T WAIT – we cannot pay you benefits until your identity has been verified. You can learn more about identity verification here. Note: To prevent delays, do not verify your identity with ID.me until AFTER you have submitted your application.
Step 8 – Additional Information Requests: Check your email and be prepared to respond to additional questions related to your earnings information. If you are a federal employee, we are required to request your earnings information from your employer before we can process your benefit claim. If your employer does not respond to our request for information in a timely manner, NJDOL will email or call you to request copies of your pay stubs or W-2 information.
